Ethmer Erisman

(From Williams Funeral Home)

Ethmer Erisman went home to be with the Lord on April 25, 2025. Wilbert Ethmer Erisman was born on November 10, 1924 to Wilbert Austin Erisman and Ova Duel Davidson in Fairview, Missouri. He was the 2nd child and oldest son of 7 children. He graduated from Fairview High School in 1942. 

Ethmer was called into the ministry by his home congregation, Shoal Creek Church of the Brethren in Fairview, MO in 1942. He was later ordained to the ministry in 1944 in his home church. He was the first in his family to attend college, working his way through school at McPherson College in McPherson, KS. He eventually helped 3 other siblings make their way to McPherson College to study. 

In 1946 he attended Bethany Biblical Seminary in Chicago, IL for his Divinity degree. There he also met his future wife, Kathryn Valencourt. They were married on August 21, 1948 in a double wedding with Kathryn’s sister, Mildred and brother-in-law Melvin Ritchey, another Bethany student. Ethmer and Kathryn celebrated 66 years of marriage.

After graduation from Bethany in 1949, they loaded up their little car with all their worldly possessions and moved to Farrenburg, MO in southeastern MO near the Mississippi River. Ethmer accepted a call to Farrenburg and Broadwater, MO Church of the Brethren, near New Madrid, MO, to serve as the local pastor. They also both taught in the four-teacher school at LaForge, MO where Ethmer taught 7th and 8th grades and served as the principal. School at LaForge started in July and let out for about 6 weeks in the fall for the children to pick cotton. David, their oldest child, was born while they served at Farrenburg Church of the Brethren.

In 1951, Ethmer served his home church, Shoal Creek Church of the Brethren, at Fairview, MO. During his time serving his home church, he also taught school to 6th, 7th, and 8th graders near Granby, MO (15 miles away). He served the church there until 1954, and then started serving at both Carthage, MO Church of the Brethren and Fairview. Ethmer had served the Carthage church as a summer pastor during seminary in 1947 and 1948. While serving the two churches, a parsonage at Carthage was purchased, and an addition to the entrance was built. They moved into the parsonage in Carthage, and Ethmer taught school and Kathryn did some substitute teaching in the school at Granby. Anne, their second child, was born in Carthage in 1957.

From 1958 to 1965 Ethmer served at the Des Moines Valley Church of the Brethren, near Ankeny, Iowa. In 1959, Gail, their youngest child, was born. The family lived next door to the rural church, where Ethmer could care for his congregation that consisted mostly of farm families, and raise farm animals and keep a milk cow and a pony with a pony cart as well. Ethmer used his pony to plow his garden each year (to the amusement of his Iowa farm neighbors), and also to take the neighbors and church members on pony cart and pony wagon rides and snow sledding pony rides. Ethmer led the Des Moines Valley church in purchasing land to relocate the church in Ankeny, Iowa. Soon after his tenure there, a new church was built and the church relocated to Ankeny.

In 1965, Ethmer, Kathryn, David, Anne, and Gail moved to Warrensburg where Ethmer served both the churches at Warrensburg and at Mineral Creek Church in Leeton, MO, about 15 miles away. While serving the Warrensburg Church of the Brethren, the church relocated to a newly constructed church building and parsonage. Ever the farmer, Ethmer moved a cow and a pony with the family back to Warrensburg. That continued the tradition of making homemade ice cream from the fresh milk and cream.

In 1969 to 1978, Ethmer was called to be the part-time pastor at Kingsville Disciples of Christ Church in Kingsville, MO, about a 40 mile commute from Warrensburg. He also taught briefly at the school in Kingsville. The Disciples of Christ was a denomination with similar theology, and the people were very supportive of his gifts of ministry there. He also taught 7th-8th grades at Chilhowee, MO.

In 1980, the Mineral Creek Church of the Brethren in Leeton, MO turned to Ethmer to see if he could return to serve their small congregation part-time again. They were no longer yoked to the Warrensburg, MO church and looked for his leadership. He served at Mineral Creek until the closure of the church in 2003.

In 2002, The Warrensburg Church of the Brethren moved to a team ministry model. They called Ethmer to serve on that pastoral team along with Jim Tomlonson, John Thomas, Becky Baile Crouse and Jerry Crouse.

Ethmer served the church for 75+ years, and taught school for 16 years. Ethmer pastored full time for 15 years, preparing and preaching sermons every Sunday and making pastoral visits, and the rest of his career as a Bi-vocational pastor. He especially enjoyed visiting with people, and never bypassed the chance to deliver fresh eggs and stay connected as friends.

 

Ethmer has lived in Warrensburg since 1965, over 50 years, and has had some connection with the Warrensburg church throughout. Ethmer has made many friends along his journey, enjoying friendships with local clergy from other denominations as well as many Amish friendships in the Windsor community, and Old Order Brethren in the Knob Noster community. He also joined the Kiwanis International Service Club in 1965. He has always been active in the community, including serving a one year term as President of the Kiwanis Club.

Ethmer is survived by 3 children: David & Mickie Erisman of Warrensburg, MO; Anne May of McPherson, KS; Gail Erisman Valeta & David Valeta of Denver, CO. 8 Grandchildren; Kelly & Michael Reily of Independence, MO; Michael & Stephanie Erisman of Lee’s Summit, MO; Caleb & Marjorie May of Signal Mountain, TN; Rachel May of Springfield, MO; Reuben & Tenille May of McPherson, KS; Ruthanne May of Minneapolis, MN; Matthew Valeta of Denver, CO; Jessica Valeta of Denver, CO; 17 Great-grandchildren, and 2 Great-great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother Paul (Linda) Erisman of Franklin Grove, IL and numerous in-laws, nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Heifer International or Warrensburg Church of the Brethren.

Visitation will be held at Williams Funeral Home on Friday April 25 from 6-8pm. Funeral service will be at Warrensburg Church of the Brethren on Saturday, April 26 at 2pm. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Heifer International or Warrensburg Church of the Brethren.